The night before my surgery I received a phone call. The caller was somewhat muffled so I wasn't actually certain of who was calling me. They asked me how I was feeling. Then they asked me something else that I couldn't quite understand. I told them I was having a difficult time understanding them. "Just a minute" they said and after some rustling on the other end of the phone they got back on. "Sorry, I just got a waterproof cover for my phone." Oh! Now I recognized that voice. :) It was my Stake president. (For those not of the LDS faith he is the leader over 11 local congregations [wards], which form a Stake) We talked a bit about my surgery and he let me know he would continue to pray for me. He also told me his sister-in-law was having the same surgery on the same day as me. He called and talked to Joe after my surgery. His sister-in-law was also not doing well with pain management. I felt it was so thoughtful of him to take the time to check up on me.
Last Sunday was Stake conference (twice a year conference with all 11 wards). I was sitting with my family in the second row. I told Joe I wanted to go tell the Stake president thank you for the calls but I had a feeling I would get too emotional. When the Stake president got up to start the meeting he saw me sitting there. He got a huge smile on his face, waved at me and gave me a thumbs up. Totally made me smile and tear up. After the meeting he came down from the stand to greet me. He told me it was miraculous to see me there and looking so well. He asked if he could give me a gentle hug. I told him I had my armor (back brace) on so it wouldn't hurt. Then he wanted to introduce me to his wife. He tried to get her attention in the crowd. We chatted a bit more about how I was doing and then headed towards his wife. She was so wonderful! She told me she had said many prayers for me and my recovery. Getting teary eyed again, I gave her a hug. I asked about her sister (who has been really up and down in her recovery). It was a brief interaction but I felt so touched by their concern and love for me. I have had interactions with him before and always felt his sincere love for me as part of a whole group. But on these occasions out of the thousands of people in his "flock" how wonderful it felt that he reached out to me personally.
As I pondered this experience I felt encompassed by love. I felt a stronger realization of my Father in Heaven's love for me. He knows me. He is aware of my needs. He inspires many people to reach out to help and serve me. They are Christ's hands in my life.
(Awesome message about being Christ's hands) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng
Friday, September 12, 2014
Monday, September 1, 2014
4 Weeks Later
A few days ago I was looking at my calendar and realized I had my surgery almost 4 weeks ago. I was surprised...and greatful that it seems like time is passing quickly. As the time passes I see small improvements on nearly a daily basis.
I love that I'm sleeping more deeply at night. As I taper off my medications my pain and muscle spasms are also tapering down. It still hurts just to a lesser degree. I still have muscle spasm just not as frequently and they are easier to calm down. I still get tired easily and take a couple naps a day. When I'm not napping I'm generally laying in bed resting my muscles. Showering and washing my hair or trying to put my hair up absolutely exhausts my shoulders. Many things exhaust my shoulders! Laying in bed with a book propped up makes my shoulder burn like I'm doing some intense weight lifting routine. I recently borrowed some treking poles for when I do my walking and it seems to be helping to loosen up my shoulders a bit. My daily walk to the mailbox is getting easier. Although I'm looking forward to cooler weather as I get so hot outside in my backbrace. I've also started walking laps around my backyard. Trying to promote new blood vessels and healing!
I'm starting to lose some of the numbnes in my back. It's kind of weird because it is just in random places. My hips and rear and getting feeling back. My left side waist is starting to feel more. For the longest time it just had that irritating feeling of pins and needles. Having more feeling is good and not so good. I have such strange sensations in my back. I feel the pressure on my spine, especially right where the worst curve was. Maybe I'm feeling the hardware. It is so odd having my back touched. I can feel some layers but not others. It's all a little eerie feeling. There have only been a few times where the itchiness of healing was noticable. I do occasionally get little shocks as my nerves regrow.
The physical therapist sent me home with little exercises to do and I feel like I am getting stronger. I'm not so dizzy or off balanced like I was when I first came home. I'm getting better at squating down to reach something. I'm so greatful for my flexibility! Being able to dry my own legs, without bending my back, after a shower is liberating. ;) Still, the best way to put on socks and pants is to lay on the bed on my back and pull my knees up to my chest. I'm just trying to take it easy and not overdo it. No way do I want to break hardware and have to go through surgery again. I was given a lifting/pushing/pulling limit of 10lbs. In the beginning I couldn't even lift my waterbottle to my mouth withouth straining if it was filled all the way. I use more of my fingers and wrists for opening the refrigerator and microwave. The sliding glass door is still a challenge. Somethings I can adapt to and other things I just ask for help with.
My husband, children and other family members are always so eager to help me. They'll run back upstairs for me to get my medications or something I forgot. They help me get my backbrace on and off. They get my icepacks and move them around to where it feels the best. They get my food, refill my water bottle and clean up all the food I drop. The list goes on and on of all the ways my sweet family assists me. I am so blessed to have such a caring, compassionate family!
Here are the improvements to my back!
I love that I'm sleeping more deeply at night. As I taper off my medications my pain and muscle spasms are also tapering down. It still hurts just to a lesser degree. I still have muscle spasm just not as frequently and they are easier to calm down. I still get tired easily and take a couple naps a day. When I'm not napping I'm generally laying in bed resting my muscles. Showering and washing my hair or trying to put my hair up absolutely exhausts my shoulders. Many things exhaust my shoulders! Laying in bed with a book propped up makes my shoulder burn like I'm doing some intense weight lifting routine. I recently borrowed some treking poles for when I do my walking and it seems to be helping to loosen up my shoulders a bit. My daily walk to the mailbox is getting easier. Although I'm looking forward to cooler weather as I get so hot outside in my backbrace. I've also started walking laps around my backyard. Trying to promote new blood vessels and healing!
I'm starting to lose some of the numbnes in my back. It's kind of weird because it is just in random places. My hips and rear and getting feeling back. My left side waist is starting to feel more. For the longest time it just had that irritating feeling of pins and needles. Having more feeling is good and not so good. I have such strange sensations in my back. I feel the pressure on my spine, especially right where the worst curve was. Maybe I'm feeling the hardware. It is so odd having my back touched. I can feel some layers but not others. It's all a little eerie feeling. There have only been a few times where the itchiness of healing was noticable. I do occasionally get little shocks as my nerves regrow.
The physical therapist sent me home with little exercises to do and I feel like I am getting stronger. I'm not so dizzy or off balanced like I was when I first came home. I'm getting better at squating down to reach something. I'm so greatful for my flexibility! Being able to dry my own legs, without bending my back, after a shower is liberating. ;) Still, the best way to put on socks and pants is to lay on the bed on my back and pull my knees up to my chest. I'm just trying to take it easy and not overdo it. No way do I want to break hardware and have to go through surgery again. I was given a lifting/pushing/pulling limit of 10lbs. In the beginning I couldn't even lift my waterbottle to my mouth withouth straining if it was filled all the way. I use more of my fingers and wrists for opening the refrigerator and microwave. The sliding glass door is still a challenge. Somethings I can adapt to and other things I just ask for help with.
My husband, children and other family members are always so eager to help me. They'll run back upstairs for me to get my medications or something I forgot. They help me get my backbrace on and off. They get my icepacks and move them around to where it feels the best. They get my food, refill my water bottle and clean up all the food I drop. The list goes on and on of all the ways my sweet family assists me. I am so blessed to have such a caring, compassionate family!
Here are the improvements to my back!
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| My awesome x-rays |
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So easy to see the difference even from the outside :) (oh and that is actually 3 weeks post-op) 
My rib doesn't stick out so much in front. My waist is still not quite even. The muscles are all pulled so much it's going to take months for everything to relax and settle into place. My torso is so much longer it seems crazy to me but I guess it's just normal.
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